Uzodimma, Okorocha Lock Horns Ahead of Imo 2027 as Governor’s Bid Triggers Constitutional Debate

A fresh political battle is unfolding between former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and his successor, Governor Hope Uzodimma, over the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Imo West ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The latest confrontation, which threatens to deepen the longstanding political rivalry between the two men, has moved to the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Okorocha is challenging Uzodimma’s emergence as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.

Okorocha, who represented Imo West in the Senate between 2019 and 2023, is asking the court to set aside the Independent National Electoral Commission’s, INEC, publication of Uzodimma’s name and recognise him as the party’s duly nominated candidate.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, was filed on August 13, 2026, by Okorocha’s counsel, O.J. Aboje, against Uzodimma, the APC and INEC.

But beyond the battle over the party ticket, the suit has opened a fresh constitutional debate over the propriety of a sitting governor contesting a senatorial election when his tenure would still be running at the time the new Senate is inaugurated in 2027.

Okorocha is asking the court to determine whether, having regard to Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Uzodimma was eligible to be published as the APC senatorial candidate while still serving as governor.

Section 183 provides that: “The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”

Uzodimma was sworn in for his second term on January 15, 2024, and his tenure is expected to end on January 15, 2028. The 2027 senatorial election, however, will take place before the expiration of his tenure, while the 11th Senate is expected to be inaugurated in June 2027.

Uzodimma is entitled to contest the election because his tenure as governor has not ended, but he cannot continue to occupy both offices. Uwaifo said: “Before his tenure begins, he will have to resign. He cannot be sitting as governor and senator.

If he is elected, he will have to resign. And if he resigns, it is valid. There is nothing anybody can do about it. So I can’t see any constitutional crisis over the matter. He noted that the inauguration of the 11th Senate was expected in June 2027, while Uzodimma’s tenure as governor would run until January 2028.